General Information About Physician Assistant and Rush University Accreditation

All Physician Assistant training programs are accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). In addition to ARC-PA accreditation, all programs in Illinois must maintain approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) in order to enroll students.

Rush University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (formerly the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education) since 1974. The commission completed the most recent accreditation review in 2008, which granted continuing accreditation to Rush University for 10 years. The next comprehensive HLC evaluation will occur in 2018-2019.

All Rush University degree programs offering clinical training in health care practice or administration are accredited by their respective specialty governing body.

Rush University PA Program Accreditation Status

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by Rush University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2021. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The IBHE approved the Rush University College of Health Sciences Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in October 2010.